World Footy News

 

Last week the Essendon Football Club announced that club and Australian Football legend, Kevin Sheedy, would be returning to the club.  The acquisition of Sheedy by the Bombers will prove a likely master stroke by the club as they use his five decades of experience at all levels of the game to help redirect the club in the wake of a tumultuous period.

Kevin has also written for World Footy News. His article last year about the proliferation of the Giants’ brand world-wide helped raise awareness of the international game to a far wider audience. See A GIANT invite from Kevin Sheedy

 Earlier last year I was able to briefly interview Kevin about his views on the international development of Australian Football. Again, he lent his enormous expertise and awareness of the game’s position to give insights to our readers: Kevin Sheedy – A (brief) World View

 The following is an official press release from the Essendon Football Club detailing the signing of Kevin Sheedy to the club and the roles that he will fill in his return to the club he supported as a kid and coached to four VFL/AFL premierships between 1981 and 2007.

 

MEDIA RELEASE

 After a seven year absence, the Essendon family is thrilled to welcome Kevin Sheedy home.

 The four-time premiership coach and Hall of Fame legend, has been appointed to the newly created role of General Manager, Commercial Development and Innovation.

 Essendon Chief Executive Officer Xavier Campbell said Kevin’s return is an important acquisition for the Club.

 “Kevin is an icon of the game, a legend of the Essendon Football Club and has more than five decades of experience as a player, coach, administrator and pioneer of the game,” Campbell said.

 “Kevin is part of the fabric of our proud Club, he paved the way for social change, broke down barriers and means so much to so many generations of loyal and proud Essendon supporters.”

 "We all look forward to welcoming Sheeds home to the Essendon family.”

 Campbell said when considering Kevin’s return to the Club, it was important for both parties that any role have purpose.

 “When considering a return for Kevin to the Club it was important, for both us and Kevin, that any role not only be ambassadorial but also have genuine meaning and purpose."

 “The General Manager, Commercial Development and Innovation position will play a key strategic role for our Club, and is a great fit for Kevin.”

 “As a key member of the Club’s senior management group, Kevin will work closely with our commercial, community and marketing departments, spending significant time engaging with key stakeholders, developing new growth strategies and supporting the successful execution of the broader Club vision and strategy.”

 Sheedy said he was very excited about returning to the club where he enjoyed more than two decades of success.

 “The Essendon Football Club holds a special place for me and my family, and I’m looking forward to be coming back to the club and working with so many driven and dedicated people,” Sheedy said.

 “It was a difficult decision to leave GWS but I am proud of the work I have done there and what we were able to achieve in a relatively short period of time and in a particularly tough market.”

 “The time to move on and spend more time with my family in Melbourne was important to me, as was the opportunity to go back to an organisation where I spent twenty-seven years.”

 Sheedy revealed the role of General Manager, Commercial Development and Innovation would enable him to help strengthen the club’s future generally.

 “Discussions with Paul and Xavier gave me a good feel for where the club is heading, they have a vision and I’m looking forward to playing a part in shaping the club’s bright future and making our fans proud.”

 “There are great people at Essendon who have continued the legacy of using football to make a positive change in the community, and I’m excited about rolling my sleeves up and ensuring we keep thinking of new ways to develop and enhance the game for all Australians.”

 “Essendon has been a pioneer in the Indigenous and multi-cultural communities and the club is committed to ensuring we continue to grow the game in these areas, be it through initiatives like the Dreamtime at the G’ or the Embracing India strategy.”

 Sheedy’s position will not involve any formal role within the club’s football department but will include providing a greater understanding and insight into the club’s fabric and proud history to all employees.

 Sheedy will commence his new role at the club on Monday 16 March.

 In an extraordinary career, Sheedy, from South Yarra in inner suburban Melbourne, first played for Prahran in the VFA before trying out with the Melbourne Demons. That decision didn’t come to fruition and shortly afterwards he joined VFL club Richmond where he played 251 games.

 After a brief media stint, Sheedy joined Essendon in 2981, taking them to four flags and another three grand-finals. At the end of the 2007 season he left the club after coaching the Bombers for 634 games. He joined Greater Western Sydney as their inaugural coach for the 2012/13 seasons for another 44 games.

 Sheedy is a member of the Australian Football Hall Of Fame amongst innumerable other honours extending from his VFL debut in 1967 to his new role at Essendon in 2015.

Kevin Sheedy - "King Of The Kids" - Cairns, 2014